With Rams possibly eyeing OT help, Kyren Williams backs Warren McClendon Jr.

When Rob Havenstein decided to retire, he did so in the same manner that fellow legends have done before him. He did his job, he ran his race, and he left the position in a better place than he found it. His work with Warren McClendon Jr. has accelerated McClendon's development process, helping him finish the 2025 season as one of the best tackles in football.

Despite that, many mock drafts have the Rams selecting a right tackle, in part due to McClendon's future. He has only one year left on his rookie deal before hitting free agency. However, if the Rams do select a tackle, they could be missing out on retaining a special piece of their offense.

Recently, running back Kyren Williams spoke about playing with McClendon, praising him for the job he did replacing Havenstein. Williams said that McClendon is one of his favorite teammates, especially after playing a pivotal role in Williams achieving his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season.

“I learned so much about Warren," Williams said this week. "I love him as a player and being out there on that field with him when I had the chance this year to do that with him. It was fun because he has that competitive mindset, competitive spirit. ‘Big Rob’ was a big part of our offense, but he didn't flinch. He came right in and was going against the best defensive ends in the league. For me and for Warren, it's honestly a hats off to him and just the work that he puts in and I'm super excited to see where he goes this year because he's probably one of my favorite teammates to play with.”

So on draft night, the Rams have a choice. Draft a potential solution to a problem that doesn't exist, or pay the man who keeps Havenstein's spirit and focus alive within the team. It seems that if the locker room had its way, this wouldn't even be a question.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Kyren Williams backs Warren McClendon Jr. ahead of NFL draft